2009 BMW 1-Series Convertible

A regular ol' clothtop for the convertible version of the "back to basics" Bimmer.

One of our wily spies has caught yet another snap of BMW's highly anticipated, U.S.-bound 1-series. Now, just how he was able tell this thing apart from, say, a 2001 3-series convertible driven by a cell-phone-totin' blind man using walls for brakes, we didn't ask. But underneath the scrapes, the Band-Aids, the fender casts, and the strap-on lights, it's quite clear what this is: a proto of the rumored 1-series convertible.

The most newsworthy aspect of these shots is indeed the most obvious: that the convertible will be offered with a cloth convertible top, one that preserves the roof shape of the coupe while looking remarkably like the convertible top on the E46-generation 3-series convertible, which was sold between 2000 and 2006. No "sheetmetal sandwich" in the trunk as in the new 3-series convertible, no fancy 6-series-style fabric buttresses. Just a simple ragtop, that's all. We humbly encourage more of that kind of thinking in Munich.

Unmasked by the camouflage are the classic BMW proportions of the 1-series, i.e., classic BMW 2002 proportions. If you want to see what's underneath—such as its shapely fuselage and bright-eyed headlamps—just check out our last spy shot of the 1-series coupe or our minitest of the 2006 130i hatchback we conducted last year in Europe. That said, by the time the 1-series gets here next year as an '09 model, it'll be time for the Euro 1-series to receive a midcycle nip and tuck, so we may actually get a freshened version. We'll see.

The convertible will undoubtedly offer the most extensive list of standard and optional features available on any 1-series when the ragtop makes its debut following the coupe's mid-2008 arrival. Among them are some things we love, such as BMW's clear gauges, aluminum trim, and supportive front seats, as well as things we hate, such as optional iDrive and active steering. We're also looking forward to seeing the 1er with the M Sport package that will bring 18-inch wheels, zoomy body mods, and an aluminum-trimmed interior. But, heck, we'll be content just to see the car without its inner-city war-zone camouflage first.

Still unclear at this point is exactly what will be on the menu in the engine bay, but we do know that all choices will have six cylinders. Will we see a 230-hp 128i? Possibly. A 255-hp 130i? Slam-dunk. What about a twin-turbocharged 300-hp 135i or M1? It's been discussed. Manual and manumatic transmissions will be offered. Given the relatively low expected weight of between 3100 and 3400 pounds, any of these possibilities promises sprightly acceleration and lively handling.

We await our first look at the coupe in Frankfurt this fall, at which point we'll be able to provide far more specifics.